Journeys and a Place€¦ · been to rehab after knee replacement, cardio rehab after a heart...
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NOTE: My article is turned in on Monday morning; General Conference ends Tuesday. If you receive the newsletter by mail, General Conference is over and you already know what has been decided. I am trusting that you have kept the church in prayer and that I will see you Sunday! We have plenty of time to process. In the meantime …. Journeys and a Place Last night, the Confirmation Class moved from room to room as we talked about the story of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). We looked at a map of the ancient world and saw that God’s people have journeyed to the promised land to be a people of blessings, ended up in slavery in Egypt, wandered in the wilderness and settled back into the promised land, were taken into exile and then eventually made it back to the promised land. The Promised Land – the land that is flowing with milk and honey – is a metaphor for being totally in the presence of God and knowing that is enough. Trusting fully in God’s grace and will, living in an attitude of thanksgiving and obedience – that is enough and that is the best place to be. How far we are from that spiritually and how we got there can be described as either Egypt, Exodus, Wilderness, or Exile. The season of *Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 6th) and lasts forty days until we celebrate on Easter morning! We talk about it being a journey – a time to reorient – a time to assess and recommit. At 1 st UMC, our Lenten journey will take us through REHAB. That is a word familiar to many of us whether you have been to rehab after knee replacement, cardio rehab after a heart attack, court-ordered drug rehab …. There are many kinds of rehabilitation! Rehab is always a journey after something has happened to us or in us and we need to reorient and get clarity before continuing the journey. On Sundays, beginning March 10, our worship topics will be Wilderness, Intervention, Program, Recovery, and Promise. During the Noonday services we will meditate on God’s covenants with us. Focusing on the covenants reminds us that God has always been and will always be with us on our journey. We will hear from different speakers about God’s promises to and through Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David & Jesus. For Christians, we see all the covenants ultimately fulfilled in Jesus the Christ. Ash Wednesday Schedule 6:15 to 8:15 am You are welcome to stop by on your way to work or school for the imposition of ashes (no service; just quiet and ‘smudging’). 12:00 pm Noonday Worship with imposition of ashes followed by a light lunch 6:30 pm Worship service with imposition of ashes in Asbury Hall (supper is at 5:30) Wherever you are on your journey, 1 st UMC is a safe place, a welcoming place, and an encouraging place for you to be. *Easter is always the Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Lent is forty days before Easter (not counting Sundays). This year, Ash Wednesday is March 6th and Easter is April 21st. 1STCHURCH.ORG/REHAB 1STCHURCH.ORG/LENT
Transcript of Journeys and a Place€¦ · been to rehab after knee replacement, cardio rehab after a heart...
NOTE: My article is turned in on Monday morning; General Conference ends Tuesday. If you receive the newsletter by mail, General Conference is over and you already know what has been decided. I am trusting that you have kept the church in prayer and that I will see you Sunday! We have plenty of time to process. In the meantime ….
Journeys and a Place Last night, the Confirmation Class moved from room to room as we talked about the story of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). We looked at a map of the ancient world and saw that God’s people have journeyed to the promised land to be a people of blessings, ended up in slavery in Egypt, wandered in the wilderness and settled back into the promised land, were taken into exile and then eventually made it back to the promised land. The Promised Land – the land that is flowing with milk and honey – is a metaphor for being totally in the presence of God and knowing that is enough. Trusting fully in God’s grace and will, living in an attitude of thanksgiving and obedience – that is enough and that is the best place to be. How far we are from that spiritually and how we got there can be described as either Egypt, Exodus, Wilderness, or Exile. The season of *Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 6th) and lasts forty days until we celebrate on Easter morning! We talk about it being a journey – a time to reorient – a time to assess and recommit. At 1
st
UMC, our Lenten journey will take us through REHAB. That is a word familiar to many of us whether you have been to rehab after knee replacement, cardio rehab after a heart attack, court-ordered drug rehab …. There are many kinds of rehabilitation! Rehab is always a journey after something has happened to us or in us and we need to reorient and get clarity before continuing the journey. On Sundays, beginning March 10, our worship topics will be Wilderness, Intervention, Program, Recovery, and Promise. During the Noonday services we will meditate on God’s covenants with us. Focusing on the covenants reminds us that God has always been and will always be with us on our journey. We will hear from different speakers about God’s promises to and through Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David & Jesus. For Christians, we see all the covenants ultimately fulfilled in Jesus the Christ.
Ash Wednesday Schedule 6:15 to 8:15 am You are welcome to stop by on your way to work or school for the imposition of ashes (no service; just quiet and ‘smudging’). 12:00 pm Noonday Worship with imposition of ashes followed by a light lunch 6:30 pm Worship service with imposition of ashes in Asbury Hall (supper is at 5:30)
Wherever you are on your journey, 1st UMC is a safe place, a welcoming place,
and an encouraging place for you to be.
*Easter is always the Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Lent is forty days before Easter (not counting Sundays). This year, Ash Wednesday is March 6th and Easter is April 21st.
1STCHURCH.ORG/REHAB
1STCHURCH.ORG/LENT
The main church phone number is 865-982-1273 *Please note that ALL staff emails now end with
1stchurch.org unless otherwise noted. Pastors Catherine Nance cnance ext. 111 Sarah Slack sslack ext. 107 Matt Hall mhall ext. 106 Music Terry Wilson sacmusic ext. 109 Susan Daves sdaves ext. 110 Chris Lee clee ext. 116 Dwain Pesterfield (organist) [email protected] Sarah Lawson Ingram slawson Children’s Ministries Denise Johns djohns ext.113 Carmen Faircloth [email protected] Youth Ministries Nathan Irwin nirwin ext.202 Administrator Mark Blodgett mblodgett ext. 103 Communications Clayton Hensley chensley ext.100 Membership Secretary Jane Sanders jsanders ext. 101 Welcome Table Amelia Geis-Scott [email protected] Technical Director Samuel Williams swilliams 982-1273 Maintenance & Custodial Staff Paul Brown, Sherri Justice 982-1273
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Our Go.Do. collection for March will be on March 24th and March 31st. Items collected will be taken to True Purpose Ministries, which helps men struggling with Substance Abuse through a Christ-Centered residential program.
Items needed: New pillows New towels Men’s Bodywash and/or bar soap.
Welcome to
Pamela & Kevin Sanford Caia & Cammie
Wendy & John Wand & Patrick
Sheri & Ronnie Alsbrooks
Doris Palmer
David Smith Rebecca Bonner
Bernice & Dave Howard
1st News
The Lenten Season On Ash Wednesday (March 6th) Christians begin a time of preparing for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. Throughout Lent, there will be several opportunities for you to focus on these different aspects of the season. On the church website, we’ve put together a guide for what’s happening from Ash Wednesday through Easter. Some things might change and there may be a few things added so be sure and check back from time to time to see what’s new. The focus on Sunday mornings will be on REHAB which means different things to different people. Check out more on each of the topics we’ll be covering at 1stchurch.org/rehab and be sure and take a listen to the podcasts related to each Sunday’s sermons. We’ll also be including thoughts and reflections about the Lenten season on our social media channels; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter so be sure and follow us on those pages.
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Lenten Study This six-week study written by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine of Vanderbilt University is a beginner's guide to Holy Week. Throughout the study, Dr. Levine delves into the history and literature surrounding the last days of Jesus' life. She sets the narrative in historical context and analyzes the risks and motives of the story's characters. Rev. Sarah Slack will be leading the Wednesday morning study which meets at 10:00 am in room 205. Rev. Catherine Nance will lead the Thursday evening study which meets at 6:30 pm in room 202. Study guides for the class cost $15. You can bring the money on the first day of the study or bring it to the church office. Please register for the study at 1stchurch.org/passion or call the church office at 982-1273.
General Conference As this newsletter was going to print, delegates from around the world were meeting for the special General Conference of the UMC in St. Louis. We hope you were able to keep up with what was happening and were able to pray for the participants and the church during this time. On March 3rd at 3:00 pm people in each of the Holston Conference’s nine districts will gather for worship and a debriefing of what happened in St. Louis. 1st United Methodist Church-Maryville is in the Smoky Mountain District. The meeting for this district will be at Fairview United Methodist Church at 2508 Old Niles Ferry Road in Maryville. The meeting is open to everyone.
1st News
Communion for our homebound
Our church family is committed to delivering communion to our shut-in members, and we have a small group of members who assist the church with this service. Both our homebound members and our volunteers have enjoyed this extension of our service.
These volunteers deliver communion to our homebound folks the first Sunday of the month after the service, but we need a few more volunteers to help us.
If serving communion to another member is something you would like to do, please let Pastor Catherine ([email protected]) or Jill Pope know ([email protected]) .
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New opportunity to GO.DO. Preparations for a new Habitat for Humanity home build have begun. This will be the 15th house built by 1st UMC since the church first got involved with Habitat for Humanity 25-years ago. This home build is in honor of Bill Meuller who has been a faithful Habitat volunteer since that first build in 1994. This year's Easter Offering will go toward the 2019 Habitat Home Build. If you are interested in volunteering with the Habitat Home Build please visit 1stchurch.org/go-do for a link to online sign ups at Habitat.
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The Tie That Binds On Faithful Families and Families of Faith
The Collective Spirituality of Black Evangelicals
March 24th at 7:00 pm
Clayton Center for the Arts For this month’s Conversation Matters, we’re taking a field trip to Maryville College to hear Dr. Todne Thomas from Harvard Divinity School. She’ll focus on the strength of the black church in the face of great adversity and the lessons we can all learn from it. If you wish to ride the bus from the church to the Clayton Center please let us know at: 1stchurch.org/conversation-matters or call 982-1273. Please be at the church at 6:15 to ride the bus to the Clayton Center.
Wednesday, March 20th Doctor and Recovering Addict
Dr. Stephen Loyd
March 6th Ash Wednesday Worship Service
Rev. Catherine Nance
United Methodist Women is a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.
Check out these upcoming events!
Our Fears and God’s Promises
March 7th 10:00 am in room 152
United Methodist Women: 150 years Smoky Mountain District Event Cokesbury UMC in Knoxville
March 23rd at 12:30 pm Rev. Charles Maynard is the speaker
SAVE THE DATE Thursday, April 4th Special UMW Event
More details coming soon!
NEWS
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Rev. Nathan Irwin Director of 1st Youth
[email protected] 865-982-1273
Youth event at Vienna Coffee House 6:00 to 8:00 pm Coming up on March 24th, youth from 1st UMC,
Broadway UMC, Fairview UMC and Middlesettlements UMC will be getting together at Vienna Coffee House for a special night of
fun and fellowship together.
All youth are invited to be a part of this fun event!
Denise Johns Director of 1st Kids Ministries [email protected] 865-982-1273
Youth fellowship now begins at 5:30 pm each Sunday night in room 153.
PALM “FUNDAY” RETURNS Last year on Palm Sunday, dozens of children, their parents and even a few grandparents spent the Sunday School Hour having a little fun in Wesley Hall. On April 14th, we’ll be doing it all again. You are invited to come to Wesley Hall beginning at 9:15 that morning for a special hour of crafts, stories, food, fun and fellowship. In order to ensure the safety of all the children ages 6th grade and younger, we are asking parents or grandparents to accompany the children to this special Palm “Funday” event!
SPECIAL SUMMER SUNDAYS One of the highlights of summer vacation is Vacation Bible School and this year, we’re mixing things up a bit by making changes to this event and stretching the fun out a little longer. Right now, the Children’s Ministry Action Team and the 1st Kids Ministries staff are working out the details on what promises to be an exciting Summer Celebration that will include not only the children, but everyone in the church.
All the fun will happen on Sundays in June, starting on June 2nd. Stay tuned for more details!
There will be NO Youth Handbells and NO Evensong Handbells
on March 10th
NO Confirmation Class on March 10th
NO Children’s choirs on March 11th
NO Youth Fellowship on March 10th & 17th
Sign ups for the April trip to the Tennessee theater begin on March 8th.
Mark your calendars for this upcoming Senior Adult outing!
Welcome Table
Memorial Fund
Missions Fund
In memory of: Given by: Doug Hardwick Brad & Patsy Lunde Doug Hardwick Gary & Sherry Hensley
Memorials & Honorariums
In memory of: Given by: Reba Gamble Don & Corkey Cochran Bill Finchum Gary & Sherry Hensley Jerry Lambert Bill & Peggy Crowder Bill Finchum Lamar & Mary Ann Dunn
In memory of: Given by: Marvin Trew Web & Lo Slawson Frank Rankin Brad & Patsy Lunde AB Goddard William & Linda McMunn Eula Gray Goddard William & Linda McMunn Bill Finchum Rowena Huffstetler
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Celebrate Recovery
In memory of: Given by: Frank Rankin Wally & Nan Werner Frank Rankin Tom Morgan Frank Rankin Tom, Jan, Emily, & Morgan Frank Rankin Mr. & Mrs. Jack Clark Frank Rankin Blount County Newcomers Club Frank Rankin Rick & Bonnie Betteridge
In Memoriam:
Christian sympathy extended to:
The family of Sarah Ann Dunsmore who died on February 11th.
The family of Jerry Lambert who died on
February 9th.
Sarah Ann Dunsmore Joined First Church
March 10, 2013 Entered the Church Triumphant
February 11, 2019
Jerry Lambert Joined First Church
August 13, 1995 Entered the Church Triumphant
February 9, 2019
There will not be a J.O.Y. Fellowship lunch in March. Instead you are invited to the Lenten Noonday
Worship service on March 27th. A light lunch will be served after the service.
Maryville First United Methodist Church 804 Montvale Station Road
Maryville, Tennessee 37803 Phone: 865-982-1273
Change Service Requested
US POSTAGE PAID
MARYVILLE TN PERMIT NO. 113
NON-PROFIT ORG
The next regular edition of The Church Bell comes out on
March 25, 2019 If you have something to submit, the deadline for submissions is
March 22, 2019
Check out more on the United Methodist movement at umc.org/movement
